WOOD SPECIES · Softwood
Radiata pine: density, weight and properties
Pinus radiata
Radiata pine (Pinus radiata) averages 500 kg/m³ at 12% moisture content, according to CIRAD’s Tropix database. The figures below are averages for clear, mature wood; individual boards vary with origin, growth and moisture.
Key figures
- Density at 12% moisture
- 500 kg/m³Average for mature wood; varies with origin and growth
- Monnin hardness at 12%
- 1.8French surface-hardness index; not convertible to Janka
- Bending strength (modulus of rupture)
- 84 MPa
- Stiffness (modulus of elasticity)
- 8,750 MPa
- Compression parallel to grain
- 41 MPa
- Tangential shrinkage, green to oven-dry
- 7.4%
- Radial shrinkage, green to oven-dry
- 4.2%
- Fibre saturation point
- 28%
Weight at 12% moisture content
Volume × 500 kg/m³, the same calculation as the weight calculator. Green or wet wood weighs considerably more.
| Piece | Size | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 cubic metre | 1,000 × 1,000 × 1,000 mm | 500 kg |
| 1 board foot | 12 × 12 × 1 in | 1.18 kg |
| 1×4 board, 8 ft | 3/4 × 3 1/2 in actual × 8 ft | 2.06 kg |
| 1×6 board, 8 ft | 3/4 × 5 1/2 in actual × 8 ft | 3.24 kg |
| 2×4 board, 8 ft | 1 1/2 × 3 1/2 in actual × 8 ft | 4.13 kg |
| 2×6 board, 10 ft | 1 1/2 × 5 1/2 in actual × 10 ft | 8.11 kg |
Movement across the width
How much a board 11 1/4 in (286 mm) wide changes when its moisture content moves by a few percentage points. The estimate uses the total shrinkage above and a linear relation below the fibre saturation point of 28% (Wood Handbook Eq. 4-9). Flat-sawn boards move with tangential shrinkage, quartersawn boards with radial shrinkage.
| Moisture change | Flat-sawn | Quartersawn |
|---|---|---|
| 3 percentage points | 2.3 mm (0.089 in) | 1.3 mm (0.051 in) |
| 6 percentage points | 4.5 mm (0.178 in) | 2.6 mm (0.101 in) |
Wood movement across the grain · Moisture content and acclimatising wood
Natural durability
Durability of the heartwood against wood-decay fungi: class 4–5 on the EN 350 scale from 1 (very durable) to 5 (not durable), as reported by Tropix. The rating applies to heartwood only.
Working and finishing
Saws and machines without difficulty, with some tear-out around knots. It glues easily with all types of adhesive, but its high permeability calls for glues with a high solids content, and sawn wood must be treated quickly against blue stain. The data are for European plantation wood (Tropix).
Typical uses
- Framing and structural timber
- Glued-laminated timber
- Furniture
- Mouldings
- Interior joinery and millwork
- Plywood
- Boxes, crates and pallets
Calculate with this material
Species with similar density
- Silver fir 490 kg/m³
- Yellow-poplar (tulipwood) 470.4 kg/m³
- Douglas-fir 537.6 kg/m³
Sources & references
Uses and working notes summarise the cited source. Check the moisture content, grade and origin of the wood you actually buy.